The "Unsafe" Mac Pro Lineup To Be Pulled From EU In March

The EU has passed a new "feel good" regulation to keep people safe. The result is that they declared the Apple Mac Pro lineup to be wholly "unsafe" and in response, Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations.

Be sure to thank your regulators from keeping you safe. Perhaps the EU can take some lessons from NYC and start regulating how much soda and sugary drinks you can buy.

Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations

Another way to phrase it would be "Apple's future products will comply with the astoundingly sagacious new regulations, but Apple will not invest in modifications to existing product lines at the end of their life cycles."

It doesn't sound like a big deal to Apple or to Europe. It was nice to see a heads-up on availability for those who need to make purchases, but with the slow rate of updates to Mac Pros, nearly anyone who needs one of these probably already has one.

I don't have any insight on whether the regulations are well done, but having fewer sets of regulations seems better than having more different sets, and the EU sounds like as good a body as any to take that job on for Europe.

Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations

Another way to phrase it would be "Apple's future products will comply with the astoundingly sagacious new regulations, but Apple will not invest in modifications to existing product lines at the end of their life cycles."

The article doesn't say that at all. For all we know, Apple will release updates to the Mac Pro lineup, but will not comply with EU's regulations.

Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations

Another way to phrase it would be "Apple's future products will comply with the astoundingly sagacious new regulations, but Apple will not invest in modifications to existing product lines at the end of their life cycles."

The article doesn't say that at all. For all we know, Apple will release updates to the Mac Pro lineup, but will not comply with EU's regulations.

They might, except that to deliberately cut out one of the largest markets would be insane.

Perhaps the EU can take some lessons from NYC and start regulating how much soda and sugary drinks you can buy.

Haha. Ever order a soda or juice in a restaurant anywhere in the EU? The glass you'll get only holds about 5 oz. That's a far cry from the Big Gulp which starts at 20 oz and that the NYC regulation is aiming at.

Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations

Another way to phrase it would be "Apple's future products will comply with the astoundingly sagacious new regulations, but Apple will not invest in modifications to existing product lines at the end of their life cycles."

The article doesn't say that at all. For all we know, Apple will release updates to the Mac Pro lineup, but will not comply with EU's regulations.

I have it on good authority that Apple will in fact release a whole slew of new machines but not be selling them at all outside of Australia* due to the risk of litigation according to ridiculous U.S. tort laws, European product safety regulations, the political situation in the Middle East and much of Africa, and reports of human rights violations in Asia.

The products will only be shared among Apple's employees.

They certainly have enough cash to just say "fuck it" to their actual market. No need to actually SELL their products anymore.

Allow me:

*) though I'm not sure about Australia because everybody knows that when you turn computers upside down, the bits fall out.

I have it on good authority that Apple will in fact release a whole slew of new machines but not be selling them at all outside of Australia* due to the risk of litigation according to ridiculous U.S. tort laws, European product safety regulations, the political situation in the Middle East and much of Africa, and reports of human rights violations in Asia.

You are absolutely right, a small startup like Apple clearly don't have the staff to maintain abreast of varying international regulation and certification.

If only there weren't such pesky safety concerns! How can a mom and pop outfit like Apple be forced at GUNPOINT by the SOCIALIST POLICE to update a 3 year old design when a new one is probably right around the corner rendering the whole story totally moot? THE HORROR.

Apple has decided to strip the product lineup from the EU rather than comply with new silly regulations

Another way to phrase it would be "Apple's future products will comply with the astoundingly sagacious new regulations, but Apple will not invest in modifications to existing product lines at the end of their life cycles."

It doesn't sound like a big deal to Apple or to Europe. It was nice to see a heads-up on availability for those who need to make purchases, but with the slow rate of updates to Mac Pros, nearly anyone who needs one of these probably already has one.

I don't have any insight on whether the regulations are well done, but having fewer sets of regulations seems better than having more different sets, and the EU sounds like as good a body as any to take that job on for Europe.

Meh.

The regulations give a number of options to comply with, mechanical hazards:

Quote:

Examples of measures to reduce risks include:− rounding of sharp edges and corners;− guarding;− provision of SAFETY INTERLOCKS;− providing sufficient stability to free-standing equipment;− selecting cathode ray tubes and high pressure lamps that are resistant to implosion and explosion respectively;− provision of markings to warn USERS where access is unavoidable.

Electric hazards:

Quote:

Examples of measures to reduce risks:Prevent USER access to parts at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES by fixed or locked covers, SAFETY INTERLOCKS, etc. Discharge accessible capacitors that are at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES.Provide BASIC INSULATION and connect the accessible conductive parts and circuits to earth so that exposure to the voltage which can develop is limited because overcurrent protection will disconnect the parts having low impedance faults within a specified time; or provide a metal screen connected to protective earth between the parts, or provide DOUBLE INSULATION or REINFORCED INSULATION between the parts, so that breakdown to the accessible part is not likely to occur.

Limit the accessibility and area of contact of such circuits, and separate them from unearthed parts to which access is not limited.Insulation that is accessible to the USER should have adequate mechanical and electrical strength to reduce the likelihood of contact with HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES.Limit TOUCH CURRENT to a specified value, or provide a high integrity protective earthing connection.Contact with circuits connected to TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS that exceed 42,4 V peak or 60 V d.c.Breakdown of USER-accessible insulation.TOUCH CURRENT (leakage current) flowing from parts at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES to accessible parts, or failure of a protective earthing connection. TOUCH CURRENT may include current due to EMC filter components connected between PRIMARY CIRCUITS and accessible parts.

I'm not an electrical or mechanical engineer, but I have worked with working life health and safety before and none of these examples of ways to comply strike me as especially harsh.

Perhaps the EU can take some lessons from NYC and start regulating how much soda and sugary drinks you can buy.

Haha. Ever order a soda or juice in a restaurant anywhere in the EU? The glass you'll get only holds about 5 oz. That's a far cry from the Big Gulp which starts at 20 oz and that the NYC regulation is aiming at.

I have ordered sodas in many restaurants across the EU (the UK, France, Italy, Portugal). I frequently am served 330ml cans, which is ~11oz - just a bit smaller than the US can size. One difference is that when I'm served soda with a glass, there's only ice if I ask for it, compared to the US where ice makes up the bulk of the volume in a glass. So by my estimate, there's no real difference in volume of drink, just chill-factor. ;-)

Perhaps the EU can take some lessons from NYC and start regulating how much soda and sugary drinks you can buy.

Haha. Ever order a soda or juice in a restaurant anywhere in the EU? The glass you'll get only holds about 5 oz. That's a far cry from the Big Gulp which starts at 20 oz and that the NYC regulation is aiming at.

That's because

a) Europeans aren't stupid , and b) European restaurants (well, German ones at least) make a large portion of their profit on drinks (which is why "endless refill" is a rarity here),

and not due to any regulations.

Order a beer in Bavaria and the regular one is a liter, with the "small" one being 0.5 l.

NB: This may be completely off-topic, but the whole thread started off off-topic-infused, because biochemistry.

One of these days the US and the world will wake up and realize that Apple and it's products have destroyed the brains of everyone who uses them.

You could sever the vocal cords of just about everyone between 4 and 38 and they would never even notice, because all they do is text. (That would not be a bad thing actually, as at that age they have nothing intelligent to say anyway!)

Not to mention the fact that all of this "i" in everything has made people self centered, and illiterate.

The regulations give a number of options to comply with, mechanical hazards:

Quote:

Examples of measures to reduce risks include:− rounding of sharp edges and corners;− guarding;− provision of SAFETY INTERLOCKS;− providing sufficient stability to free-standing equipment;− selecting cathode ray tubes and high pressure lamps that are resistant to implosion and explosion respectively;− provision of markings to warn USERS where access is unavoidable.

Electric hazards:

Quote:

Examples of measures to reduce risks:Prevent USER access to parts at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES by fixed or locked covers, SAFETY INTERLOCKS, etc. Discharge accessible capacitors that are at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES.Provide BASIC INSULATION and connect the accessible conductive parts and circuits to earth so that exposure to the voltage which can develop is limited because overcurrent protection will disconnect the parts having low impedance faults within a specified time; or provide a metal screen connected to protective earth between the parts, or provide DOUBLE INSULATION or REINFORCED INSULATION between the parts, so that breakdown to the accessible part is not likely to occur.

Limit the accessibility and area of contact of such circuits, and separate them from unearthed parts to which access is not limited.Insulation that is accessible to the USER should have adequate mechanical and electrical strength to reduce the likelihood of contact with HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES.Limit TOUCH CURRENT to a specified value, or provide a high integrity protective earthing connection.Contact with circuits connected to TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS that exceed 42,4 V peak or 60 V d.c.Breakdown of USER-accessible insulation.TOUCH CURRENT (leakage current) flowing from parts at HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES to accessible parts, or failure of a protective earthing connection. TOUCH CURRENT may include current due to EMC filter components connected between PRIMARY CIRCUITS and accessible parts.

I'm not an electrical or mechanical engineer, but I have worked with working life health and safety before and none of these examples of ways to comply strike me as especially harsh.